Obituary of Arlene Ford

Allegany-- Arlene R. Ford, of 3974 Route 417, Allegany, passed away Sunday (December 5, 2010) at the Pines Health and Rehabilitation Center in Olean, surrounded by her family, after a long illness. Born February 22, 1923 in Batavia, NY, she was the daughter of William McKinley "Mac" and Ruth Arlene Waite Phillips. On September 8, 1946 in the First Presbyterian Church in Olean, she married Gerald Ford, who survives. Mrs. Ford first attended school in the Batavia area and later graduated from Livonia Central School in 1941. She then attended Rochester Business Institute, moving to Olean in 1943. She was associated with the former family-owned business as a bookkeeper and clerk for Wm M. Phillips &amp; Four Season Garden Center. She later was employed as an office manager for an Insurance Agency in Allegany, retiring in 1980. Mrs. Ford was a past member of the First Presbyterian Church in Olean. She enjoyed doing needle work especially intricate counted cross stitch pictures. Surviving besides her husband are 2 daughters Jan Howard of Marion, NY, Judy (Kevin) Curran of Portville; 2 granddaughters Kaitlin (John) Speta of Portville, Kristin (Lucas Flachs) Curran of Stamford, NY; 1 brother William E. (Barbara) Phillips of Ten Mile, TN; many nieces and nephews including a special niece Pat (Bill) Thierman; and several grand nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a son-in-law Fred Howard in March 2000. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday (December 7, 2010) at 11am at the Casey, Halwig and Hartle Funeral Home, 3128 W. State Rd, Olean. Burial will be in Allegany Cemetery. In Lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Allegany Public Library 90 West Main St, Allegany NY 14706 or to the Allegany Volunteer Fire Department PO Box 96, Allegany NY 14706. <h3>Services</h3> Tuesday December 7, 2010 11am <h3>Interment</h3> Allegany Cemetery